Actuating device for elevator-indicators.



VV. S. SIVIITH.

A/ICTU/ITING DEVICE FOR ELEVATOR INDICATORS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 20.1913.

Patented Dec. 5, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I W. S. SMITH.

4ACTUATING DEVICE FOR ELEVATOR INDICATORS. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2o. Isls.

I I l 9 Patented Dec. 5, 1916.

V2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIW'III@ WILLIAM S. SMITH, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

ACTUATIN G DEVICE FOR ELEVATOR-INDICATORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 5, 1916.

Application filed February 20, 1913. Serial No. 749,592.

b all 'tu/tom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. SMITH, of Cambridge, in the county of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Actuating Devices for Elevator- Indicators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improvement in actuating devices for elevator indicators, and more particularly in such devices having provision for applying the motion of some moving part of the elevator to some part of the indicator in a reduced ratio.

Elevator systems are usually provided with an indicator on each licor which is operated from some moving part of the elevator to indicate the position of the car. An example of an indicator of this type is one which comprises a dial having numerals corresponding to the iioors at which the car stops, and a y movable pointer. The pointer may be actuated to traverse the dial by any suitable mechanism such, for instance, as a mechanical train connected with the moving part of the elevator. In an indicator of this general type, however, some device must be employed to reduce the motion of the moving part before it is applied to the indicator.

The object of the present invention is to improve and simplify the construction of the connection between the moving part of the elevator and the indicator and particularly the means for reducing the motion of the moving part before it is transmitted to the indicator.

Among the advantages of construction hereinafter describedare simplicityT of construction and operation, inexpensiveness of manufacture, the apparatus requires but little attention when in operation, and will not be thrown out of adjustment by ordinary wear. The features employed to the accomplishment of this object and such others as may hereinafter appear will best be understood by reference to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevation of an elevator system having incorporated therein the preferred embodiment of my improved indicator actuating device; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the sheave and connections to the indicator; and Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 of Fig. 1.

power which operates the elevator.

The elevator system shown in Fig. 1 may be of any desired construction, but for the purpose of illustrating this invention the elevator may comprise a car 2 supported by a rope 4 which passes over a sheave 6 and then to a counterweight or to the source of The' sheave 6 is iXedly mounted on a shaft 8 which is lsupported in journals 10 secured to I-beams 12.

An indicator which may be of any desired construction, is shown at 14, Fig. 1. In the construction illustrated, the pointer 16 is rotated by a cord 18 passing over idle pulleys 20, and attached to a tape 22. Similar indicators may be connected with the tape on each floor. The lower end of the tape is preferably provided with a counter-weight 24, and the upper end is connected through suitable mechanism with some moving part of the elevator system such as the sheave 6 so that when the sheave is rotated with the rise and fall of the car, the tape 22 will be moved in unison with the car but through a greatly reduced distance.

The means for transferring the motion of sheave 6 to the tape 22 in a reduced ratio, preferably comprises a rack and gear mechanism as illustrated in the drawings. The shaft 8 upon which the sheave is mounted is provided with an end 26 which may be of reduced diameter and upon which is loosely mounted, a gear 28. A friction drive is provided between the shaft and the gear. This may consist of a spring 30 surrounding the end of the shaft, and compressed between the hub of the gear and a nut 32 on the shaft. A collar 34 of fiber or other friction producing material may be inserted between the gear 28 and the larger part of the shaft. The gear 28 meshes with gear 36 fixed on a shaft 38 which is supported in suitable bearings in a bracket 41 carried by a second bracket 40 mounted on one of the I-beams 12. The shaft 38 is provided near its middle with a pinion 42 which meshes with a rack 44 cut in one side of the rod 46. The rod 46 is mounted to slide longitudinally in bearings (Fig. 3) in the bracket 41. A chain 48 connects one end of the rod 46 with the tape 22. In order that the chain may leave the bracket at any desired angle, an idle pulley 50 is carried by a bracket 52 which is rotatably secured in the bracket 41. By loosening a set-screw 54, the bracket may be movement in either. direction. ln' order that one i the abutments may be readily adjuste ed, it may be ionned by a scr-ew 5t having a locking screw V57 to holdit in adjusted position. The hub. of the bracket 52 is employed to form the abutment for the rod at `the other end of its motion. The relation between -the abutments and the path of travel ofthe rod 46 is such that the motion of the rod is stopped at the time when the pointer .16 indicates the extreme positions of the ear. If the'car has not reached its highest or 'lowest position when the motion oi' the 4 rod 46 is stopped, the further travel of the car will cause the shaft S to slip in the 'gear 28 on account of the trictional conneetion therebetween which has been described. The bracket 4l is 4preferably bored throughout its 'length :to the diameter of the 'rod 46. Chambers 43 'may be cast in thebracket to reduee the friction or' the rod.

By making the h'ub 'of vthe bracket 52 to fit the bore andproviding a bushing 55 Afor the 'screw '56, but 7'one machining opera-tion is necessary to provide vthe bearing for the rod 46 and the ltwo 'abut'ments l It is apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates, that the sheave which has been described as the soureerof energy to operate the indicators Vmay equally well be any other part of the elevator' systemwhiehinoves in synchronism with the car. ln many instances, the cable dium can be conveniently substituted for the supporting sheave described. y

It is to be understood that this invention copies f this patent may bejobta'inea for is not cireumscribed by the exact details herein set forth, as changes may be made in the form, character, and relation of the parts within the scope of the invention as dened by the claims.

What is claimed as new is:

l. An actuating device for elevator indicators having a sheave rotatable with the rise and fall ot the elevator car, a gear, a

irictional connection between the gear and the sheare, a rack operated by the een', an abutment to engage the ack at one end et its movement and connections between the indicators and the rack by which the indicators are actuated.

2. An actuating device vtor elevator indicators having a sheave rotatable with the rise andiall of the elevator car, a gear, a :trictional connection between the sheave and the gear, a rack in operative relation with the gear, connections between the rack and the indicators by which they are operated. abearing for the rack, and an abutment for the rack at one end of the bearing and a pulley mounted to be adjusted aboutthe longitudinal axis of the rack to guide said connecting means.

3. An actuating device for indicators comprising a shaft, a gear frictionallv mounted thereon, a rack, means operated by said gear to cause said rack to have a longitudinal reciprocating movement, abutments to limit the movement of said rack indicators, and means connecting said rack with said indicators, so that said indicators will move in accord with the movement el" said rack.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto sei my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 18th day of February, 1919.

W'ILLAM S. SMTH.

Witnesses SIBYL V. Parma, LEONA C. HIL'rz.

ve cents each, by addressing' the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

